EARTH-BASED, BUT HEAVEN BOUND

INTRODUCTION

Where are you right now?

Look around - what do you see? Touch something with your hand.

This is the world that we experience with our five senses - this is the world with which we are familiar

This is the world that holds the attention of the majority of its inhabitants

One of the greatest challenges we face is to be, at the same time, earth-based but heaven bound

1. We are “in the world” - but we do not want to be “of the world”

2. We are in a constant struggle between the “here-and-now” and the “there-and-then”

In this lesson a contrast will be made between those “who mind earthly things” (Phil. 3:19) and those who “citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 2:20)

A question that each must face is this: “Is my mind set on earthly things or heavenly thing?”

In Philippians 3:17-4:1 we will notice that there is:

A Pattern to Acknowledge (3:17)

A People to Avoid (3:18-19)

A Purpose to Achieve (3:20-4:1)

DISCUSSION

A PATTERN TO ACKNOWLEDGE

Philippians 3:17 ASV

17 Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.

“Imitators together” συμμιμητής meaning “one who joins others as an imitator”

There were to join together in following the Example of Paul

1 Corinthians 11:1 ASV

1 Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Paul has already said that nothing was as important to him as Christ (3:4-11)

Paul wants them to imitate his attitude toward Christ, but also…

The Example of Fellow Christians

To imitate something we must see it

One translation reads,….keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us”

In other words, “MARK THEM”

The word “walk” in our current context has reference to how one lives

1 John 1:7 ASV

7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Philippians 3:17 highlights the importance of having good examples - and being good examples

Not only is there a pattern to acknowledge, but there is…

A PEOPLE TO AVOID

Philippians 3:18–19 ASV

18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

For every good example there are many bad examples

Paul having just exhorted his readers to follow good examples, now warns them not to follow bad examples

Specific Application

Who were they to avoid? - “The enemies of the cross”

The Judaizing teachers and/or false teachers

Why were they enemies of the cross?

Galatians 2:21 ASV

21 I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.

Their end was destruction because…

Galatians 5:4 ASV

4 Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.

They minded

“earthly things” -

“whose god is their belly” -

How concerned was Paul with this - he wept about it

General Application

Sadly, there are any “enemies of the cross” today

One is an enemy of the cross who:

Teaches false doctrine…

Are worldly…

Are not dedicated Christians…

A PURPOSE TO ACHIEVE

Philippians 3:20–4:1 ASV

20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself. 1 Wherefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved.

Paul’s desire for them might be summed up in the words he wrote to the Christians in Rome

Romans 12:2a ASV

2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

And to the Christians in Colossae

Colossians 3:2 ASV

2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

Paul desired that they have a…

A Heavenly Place

“For your citizenship is in heaven” (v. 20)

As such we are “resident aliens” - citizens of one country residing in another

Hebrews 11:13 ASV

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

1 Peter 2:11 ASV

11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Song: “This world is not my home…”

Paul also wanted them to set their minds on…

A Heavenly Person

“whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 20)

We need to focus our hearts of Jesus and eagerly look for His coming

John 14:1–4 ASV

1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go, ye know the way.

And when we set our minds on a Heavenly Person we will have

A Heavenly Purpose

When the Lord returns amazing things will occur - one of which is described in our present context

“the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation [or, lowly body], that it may be conformed to the body of his glory” (vs. 20b-21a)

At the Lord’s coming our earthly bodies will be transformed into a spiritual body like our Lord’s

1 John 3:2 ASV

2 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.

The point is, why center your attention on the flesh when the flesh is going to be changed?

Our hearts must be set on the heavenly purpose - the transformation of our lowly bodies - thus relying on…

A Heavenly Power

a. Is Christ capable of the dramatic change just discussed?

b. “according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself” (v. 21b) ©

c. “Working” comes from the Greek word energeia and literally means “power in action” ©

d. How much power does Jesus have? ©

1) Matthew 28:18 ©

2) Ephesians 1:22 ©

3) Hebrews 1:3 ©

4) “...subdue all things unto himself” (Phil. 3:21)

e. This is to be another focus of ours - His heavenly power ©

A Heavenly Precept

a. Philippians 4:1 ©

b. “Stand fast” in the path he has just described ©

c. What will enable us to do this? We must stand fast in Christ

1) Not in error

2) Not in our own personal wants

3) But in the strength of the Lord ©

d. Ephesians 6:10 ©

e. One way we are able to stand in the strength of the Lord is to set our minds on things above

CONCLUSION

A. All things are destined to perish (Col. 2:22) ©

B. 2 Corinthians 4:18 ©

C. Matthew 6:19-20

D. Where then should we set our minds? ©

E. We may be earth-based, but let us determine to be heaven-bound!